N78 - Athy Southern Distributor Road [completed]

Great to see this one get underway after many decades of talking

Looks to be plenty going on anyhow. Saw plenty of progress and site works off the train and also on the Castledermot road. Also lights on the Castlecomer road- big project but it should be very worthwhile

There will be a new roundabouts at ends, but drawings have the intermediate junctions as at-grade, light controlled crossings: this is an urban relief road, not a bypass.

From the planning application:

• 3.4km of urban arterial road (Type 3 single carriageway), incorporating pedestrian and cycle facilities;
• Two new roundabouts – one on the N78 Kilkenny Road south-west of Athy town centre and one on the R418 Castledermot Road south-east of the town;
• One connection to an existing roundabout – N78/M9 link road / R418 Kilcullen Road east of Athy town centre;
• Two signalised cross-roads junctions, at Fortbarrington Road and at the R417 Carlow Road, both incorporating right turning lanes and pedestrian/cycle crossings;
• One river bridge with an 80m single span over the River Barrow;
• One railway bridge over the Dublin-Waterford railway line

Thanks Pablo, its looking good to see it progressing. I might buy you a pint at the end of the month.

great to see everybody out whinging on Facemuck as well.

https://kildare-nationalist.ie/2023/10/17/athy-ring-road-to-open-in-two-weeks/

Should make a big difference- if you’re travelling from north Kilkenny to Dublin direction I wonder will it make the N78 more convenient than joining the M9 further south and saving some kms

Those photo opps piss me off as we have to wait around for days or even weeks to got their narcissistic diaries as taxpayers paying for the schemes…

But let’s stay positive and this should be a great scheme- is the N78 to be redesignated to the new road?

I made a video of this morning but unfortunately it won’t upload for me. Nice scheme and much quicker than going through the town. About 3/4 mins end to end. Very much an urban type road in design with no overtaking and lots of pedestrian provision. A great addition in all

Here we go;

Went from the Castlecomer road roundabout to the Dublin one and back again. Apologies in parts the phone slipped briefly on the dashboard as I’d no holder but otherwise fine

I think the new road is plenty sufficient. Was plenty of traffic on it but moves along perfectly well with min hold ups at the lights. If all towns this size had similar it would be a great template to follow. The M9 was built to take through traffic off the N78 anyhow

I cycle a lot and used the new road last week, I definitely wouldn't use the pedestrian/cycle lane as there were so many walkers/runners/kids/dogs etc that I'd knock someone down. Its great to be able to go through town easily without stop starting.